The Wine Experience: Cruise Lines Pour It On

Whether you’re a serious aficionado or simply enjoy an occasional glass of wine, there’s no better place to indulge your love affair with wine than onboard a cruise ship. Interest in wine, especially among Baby Boomers, has escalated over the past few years and cruise lines are getting onboard by offering lectures, tastings and tours all centered around wine. Some cruise lines have even gone so far as to create and offer their own special vintages of wine.

The fascination with wine has gone hand-in-hand with the upscale culinary experience now being offered aboard many ships. Celebrity chefs, once reserved for television shows and big-city restaurants, have made their way out to sea. "The partnerships between celebrity chefs and cruise lines exemplify today’s multi-faceted cruise cuisine. Today’s cruise ships have come a long way from the regimented dining rules and endless buffets of years past," according to Terry L. Dale, president and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

How does a celebrity chef partner with a cruise line? For example, he or she may serve as the cruise line's culinary consultant, shaping passengers’ choices for food and eating venues. In addition to creating award-winning menus, the chef also develops the wine lists and assists with the executive restaurant staff training.

If you’d like to hone your wine-tasting skills, you might want to explore your ship's enrichment program. Learn how to taste wines like a professional, or listen to presentations highlighting the special attractions of the upcoming port where you can learn about shore excursions centered on local wineries.

Cruise ships may feature everything from table-top wine service to a dine-in wine cellar, to special wine bars, representing some of the world's premiere winegrowing regions.

Some cruise ships even feature completely wine-centric cruises, with port calls in regions known for their wine.

If you’d like to get a better taste of wine, either onboard a ship or through a land excursion, let Cruise Holidays help you plan a cruise to indulge your passion.